Silo construction



"Dec. 30, 1969 7 M. T. MORIARITY 3,486,282

SILO CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.) F162 FIG.3

Dec. 30., 1969 M.'T. MORlARlTY 3,486,282

SILO CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15, 1968 '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1969 M.T MORIARITY 3,486,282

SILO CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 30, 1969 M.T. MORIARITY 3, 6,

SILO CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 15. 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

FIGI2 United States Patent 0 US. Cl. 52-234 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A prefabricated cellular silo construction using precast boxmembers and panels preferably of concrete, such that the interconnectiontogether of box members only and box members with panels forms an arrayof storage compartments which are separated one from another by only asingle Wall. The silo may be built to any desired storage capacity byassembling the box members and panels one upon another to apredetermined height, and by forming the compartments of a selectedcross-sectional area. The box members and panels may include meanstherein for prestressing the same horizontally and/or vertically.

This invention relates to structural units for use in the constructionof buildings and particularly for use in bin type structures such asgrain storage silos. Silos of this type are generally of a tubularconfiguration.

In some prior art constructions, the practice has been to employ aseries of tubular, open-ended one piece building units. These units arestacked and interbonded in an aligned relationship to make up the siloor elevator receptacle. However, such constructions involve theprovision of a great many interior walls of double thickness i.e., eachinterior wall is formed by placing adjacent one another the side wallsof other and separate tubular building units, resulting in excess weightand the use of greater quantities of building materials. Accordingly,the useful load capacity of such a silo construction is reducedconsiderably. Furthermore, costs are high owing to the fact that thequantities of building materials are not minimized to the extentpossible, and are used inetiiciently.

Another type of prior art construction employs only building units inthe form of single panels. To build a silo receptacle of this type, verylarge numbers of these panels are connected together. This type of siloreceptacle has an equally large number of joints, each of whichrepresents a potential weak spot in its structural make-up, and the silorequires a considerable amount of time and effort to assemble.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aprefabricated silo construtcion which has an improved useful loadcapacity.

Another object of the improved silo construction to be described is topermit a reduction in the amount of building material required for usetherein. The present silo comprises an array of storage compartmentsmade up by interconnecting precast box members and panels, such thateach storage compartment is separated from another by only a singlewall.

Still another object of the improved silo construction is to facilitatefairly rapid assembly thereof by forming cellular storage compartments,each of which is separated one from another by only one wall. Thesecompartments are made up by the interconnection together of precast boxmembers only, and box members with precast panels such that eachcompartment is separated from another by only one wall.

These objectives and similar features may be found in a prefabricatedstorage silo having an array of storage compartments separated one fromanother by only a single wall, and being adapted to enable the fillingand withdrawal of material to be stored therein, the array of storagecompartments comprising in combination; a multiplicity of preformedpanel members each having flange means provided along two opposite edgesthereof and being disposed to enclose an angle therewith, the flangemeans along each edge being a mirror image of the flange means along theother edge; a plurality of box members each consisting of a pair of saidpanel members and connecting walls, said pair of panel members beingspaced apart and integrally connected through said flange means thereonto the connecting walls to define a unitary openended box member of amulti-sided cross-section; said flange means on adjacent panel membersand box members being adapted to be disposed in a mating relationshipfor enabling connecting together of said members; and connecting meansfor securing the panel and box members together with said members beingdiscrete units one to another, such that some of the storagecompartments are formed by the interconnection together of box membersonly, while others of the storage compartments are formed by theinterconnection of box members to panel members.

In a more preferred form, the present invention is embodied in aprefabricated storage silo having an array of storage compartments eachbeing separated one from another by only one wall and being adapted toenable storing material therein and Withdrawal of material therefrom,the array of storage compartments comprising in combination; amultiplicity of precast panel members each having flange means providedalong two opposite edges thereof, said flange means being disposed toenclose an angle with the plane of the panel member, each flange meansbeing a mirror image of the other; a plurality of box members eachconsisting of a pair of said panel members and a couple of connectingwalls, said pair of panel members being spaced apart and integrallyconnected through the flange means thereon to the connecting walls fordefining a unitary open-ended box member of substantially rectangularcross-section; the flange means on the panel and box members beingcomplementary in form so as to be positionable in a mating relationshipfor enabling connecting said members together; and connecting tie meansmounted in orifices in the flange means on each of said panel and boxmembers and being operative for connecting the same together as discreteunits, such that some of the storage compartments are formed by theinterconnection together of box members only while others of the storagecompartments are formed by the interconnection of box members to panelmembers.

The present silo construction is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows a side elevation view of a prefabricated silo as setforth herein;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of the prefabricated silo of FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view taken in section along line 33 of FIG. 1,showing one embodiment of a foundation structure for the prefabricatedsilo of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded plan view taken in section along line 44 ofFIGURE 1 showing construction detail of the prefabricated silo of FIGURE1;

FIGURES 5 and 6 are plan views taken in section of a portion of adjacentunits showing details of the interconnection of the building units ofthe persent silo construction;

FIGURE 7 is an elevation view taken in section along line 77 of FIGURE 4showing detail of one embodiment of the horizontal joints between twosuperimposed building units of the type described herein;

FIGURE 8, 9 and 10 are diagrammatic representations of furtherarrangements of the building units;

FIGURE 11 is an end view, in section, similar to FIG- URE 3, and showinganother embodiment of a foundation structure for the prefabricated silodescribed; and

FIGURE 12 is an elevation view, in section, similar to FIGURE 7 andshowing another embodiment of the horizontal joints between twosuperimposed building units.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, a prefabricated silo receptacle 1rests on a foundation structure 10. The silo receptacle 1 consists of anarray of storage compartments (FIGURE 4) which are made up from aplurality of precast building units in the form of box members 2 andpanels 4 placed side by side and superimposed one upon another inarrangements to be described below.

The foundation structure 10 which supports the silo 1 and its contents(not shown) is described in one embodiment with reference to FIGURES 2and 3. Footings 100 support vertical foundation walls 102 in aconventional manner. A trough 104 consists of a base section 1106,upwardly and outwardly extending arm sections 108 integrally secured tosaid base section, and outwardly extending flange sections 110 which areintegral with the free end of each of said arm sections 108, said flangesections being substantially co-planar with the footings 100.

Each of the flange sections 110 supports an upwardly extending, inclinedfloor panel 112, and a vertical interior wall 114. The floor panel 112is generally flat and rests on fill material shown at 116. The floorpanels 112 are in engagement with the foundation walls 102 at a locationsomewhat below the top edges 118 of said walls.

Each of the interior walls 114 terminates at a top edge 119, which issubstantially co-planar with the tops 118 of the foundation walls 102.In addition, each of the interior walls 114 has a port 120 therein, saidport being located to permit passage therethrough of some of thecontents of the silo 1, to flow downwardly into the base section 106 ofthe trough 104.

A further floor panel 122, generally V-shaped in crosssection, ismounted between the interior walls 114 and is spaced above the trough104. A chute 124 provides communication of the storage compartmentsthereabove with the trough 104. The foundation structure 10 is made toany desired size, using known construction techniques.

Although not shown in FIGURES 1 to 3, automatically driven feed meansare usually provided for filling the silo, and in the base section 106to facilitate removal of the stored contents of the silo receptacle 1.

As noted above, the prefabricated silo receptacle 1 consists of an arrayof storage compartments made up from a plurality of the building unitsin the form of box members 2 and panels 4.

The box members 2 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) consist of spaced apart panels 20which extend substantially in a plane terminating at vertical side edges22 and horizontal top and bottom edges 24 and 26. The panels 20 areconnected to connecting walls 30 by means of flanges 28 which areprovided along the side edges 22. Each of the connecting walls 30extends substantially in a plane terminating at vertical side edges 32and horizontal top and bottom edges 34 and 36. Each flange 28 isdisposed at approximately 45 relative to the panel 20 such that theflange provided at one of the edges 22 is a mirror image of the flangeprovided at the other edge. The box member 2 is formed by precasting thepanels 20, flanges 28 and the connecting walls 30 as an integral unittto define an open-ended box member or tubular building unit.

The panel units 4 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) consist of a panel 40 extendingsubstantially in a plane and terminating at vertical side edges 42 andhorizontal top and bottom edges 44 and 46. Flanges 48 are provided alongside edges 2 to the panel 40 and are disposed at approximately 45 to theplane of each panel 40. As on box members 2, the flange 48 along one ofthe side edges 42 of the panels 40, is a mirror image of the flangeprovided at the other edge. The panel unit 4 is formed by precasting thepanel 40 with flanges 48 as an integral building unit.

Both of the box members and panels 2 and 4 will normally be precast ofconcrete and may be provided with means 50 therein (see FIGURES 5 and 6)for prestressing the same. It should also be noted that the top andbottom edges 24, 26, 44 and 46, and 34 and 36, respectively, of thepanels 20 and 40 and connecting walls 30. are preformed when beingprecast to provide mating bottom and top edge surfaces 54 and 56 havinga complementary configuration (see FIGURE 7).

Each bottom edge surface 54 comprises an outer dependent lip section 58and an inner step section 60. On the top edge surface 56 the lip andstep sections are reversed in that the step section is outside and thelip section is on the inside. Sealing means in the form, for instance,of closed cell synthetic rubber sponge cord glued in a groove shown at62, are provided to ensure that the joint between the mating surfaces 54and 56 is resistant to penetration by water or snow. The sealing means62 will usually be omitted from the horizontal joints between matingsurfaces 54 and 56 which are in the interior of the silo receptacle 1.

To build a silo receptacle 1 as set forth herein, the foundationstructure 10 is first fabricated, usually from poured concrete, precastpanels and sectional elements. The top edges 1'18 and 119 of thefoundation and interior walls 102 and 114 are co-planar and preformed(FIG. 3) to provide a mating engagement with the bottom edge surfaces 56of the box members and panels 2 and 4 placed thereon. The subsequentstages of the construction process are best seen with reference toFIGURE 4.

Assembly of the array of cellular storage compartments is begun byplacing a box member 2 on the corner of the foundation structure 10 asshown at A. It should be noted however that two panel units 4 could beused at the corners of the silo receptacle instead of a single boxmember 2. The latter is preferred for strength and stability. Next,another box member 2 is placed adjacent to the building unit at Adiagonally in relation thereto, as shown at B. The respective connectingflanges 28 (FIG. 5) each comprise a bevelled mating surface 70, providedwith a bore 72 extending therethrough for receiving a connecting bolt 74of high tensile steel. A bearing plate 76 having apertures aligned withthe bores 72 is provided on the other face 71 of each of the flanges 28to support and distribute the load carried by the bolts 74. Tighteningof nuts 75 on the bolts 74 which pass through the mating flange surfaces70 of the building units shown at A and B completes the interconnectionof the building units at A and B. Additional box members 2 will then beplaced as shown at C and will be connected in the above describedgianner to the building unit shown previously mounted at Next, a panelunit 4 is mounted on the foundation structure 10 to close a gap 78between adjacent box members 2 along the periphery or outside wall ofthe silo receptacle 1. FIGURE 6 shows the interconection betweenbuilding units 2 and 4. Each of the respective flanges 28 and 48 has abevelled mating surface shown at 80 and another face parallel theretoshown at 81 with bore holes 82 passing therethrough for receiving bolts84 of high tensile steel. A hearing plate '86 is mounted on the otherface 81 of flange 28 and the other face 81 of the flange 48 to supportand distribute the load carried by the bolts 84. The joint formed by themating surfaces 80 is an external joint, i.e. it is exposed to theweather and therefore sealing means 88 are also provided as shown.Conventional sealing means are provided at the connecting bolts 84 whichpass through the flange 28 to prevent penetration therealong of water orsnow.

Tightening nuts 85 on the connecting bolts 84 securely interconnects thepanel unit 4 to adjacent box members 2 as shown in FIGURE 4.

The build-up of an array of cellular storage compartments is continuedin the manner indicated above until the desired structural arrangementis achieved. FIGURES 1 and 2 show an arrangement which is 5 units longand 3 units wide. However since the individual building units 2 and 4may be formed in a wide variety of dimensions, the number of cellularcompartments needed will depend upon the storage capacity desired. Itwill be evident from the description and drawings herein, that largenumbers of building units 2 and 4 may be superimposed one upon anotherto build a silo receptacle 1 of almost any desired height.

Alternate arrangements of the box members and panel units 2 and 4 areshown diagrammatically in FIGURES 8 to l0. In FIGURE 8, a siloreceptacle 1 consists of a pair of box members 2 positioned at twocorners of the silo and a one-piece corner unit 98 positioned at each ofthe other two corners as shown, to complete the periphery of the silo.The corner units 98 are structurally quite similar to one of the panelunits 4, except that the former are provided with a 90 bend centrallythereof. A bevelled surface may also be provided at the corner similarto flange 28 described above with reference to FIG. 5. Each corner unit98 is made by precasting the same as a one-piece unit, and means may beincluded therein to prestress the unit.

In FIGURE 9 the silo receptacle 1 consists of one box member 2, and apair of one-piece end units 99 of substantially a C-shape in crosssection. The box member 2 is located intermediate the two end units 99and is connected thereto. Each end unit is similar to the corner units98 described above but are further modified by including two 90 bends atequally spaced intervals to define the C-shaped unit having one sideopen.

FIGURE 10 shows still another illustrative arrangement for the siloreceptacle 1. In this embodiment four box members 2 are placed at thecorners of the silo receptacle 1 and connected to a central box member2. The box members 2 are laterally spaced apart and define gapstherebetween, which are closed by a plurality of panel units 4 as shown.

In each of the arrangements of FIGURES 8-10, the various building unitswhich make up the silo receptacle are interconnected by nuts and boltsin the method described with respect to FIGURE 4.

Another embodiment of the foundation structure 10, is shown in FIG. 11.In this embodiment the trough 104 consists of the base section 106 and apair of upwardly and outwardly extending arm sections 108' integrallyconnected to the base section. It is to be noted that the arm sections108 make up the entire floor of the silo 1 and not only a portionthereof, as in the embodiment of FIG- URE 3. Each arm section 108'terminates in an outwardly extending footing flange 110' which isdisposed generally horizontally.

A pair of vertical interior walls 114 are also connected to andsupported by the arm sections 108'. Each of the interior walls 114terminates at a level substantially coplanar with the footing flanges110, such that the panels 4 and box members 2 may be mounted andsupported directly on the same. This is indicated in FIGURE 11.

A support dome 121 generally in the shape of an inverted V is alsosupported on the arm sections 108, between the interior walls 114 andextending longitudinally of the silo 1 above the trough 104. The supportdome 121 is provided with access openings 120' which, together withsimilar access openings 120 in the interior walls 114, serve to enablethe stored grain to flow downwardly in a controlled quantity to thetrough section 104. From here the grain is removed in a conventionalmanner using auger screws or the like. The support dome 121 serves toabsorb the downward load caused by the grain stored in the storagecompartments directly above it. In this Way, such a load is not able toact directly on the auger screws, for instance, tending to jam oroverload the same.

Depending upon the actual size of the silo 1 under construction, thefoundation structure 10 as shown in FIG. 11

could be poured of concrete in situ. Alternatively, the foundationstructure 10 could be prefabricated from precast and prestressed unitsand assembled on location. This is in accordance with known constructiontechniques.

As previously described, some of the horizontal joints betweensuperimposed box members 2 and panels 4, may be provided with cord-likesealing means 62 (FIG. 7) in one embodiment, or with gasket-like sealingmeans 62, as indicated in FIG. 12'. Other equivalent sealing means couldalso be used.

The respective dimensions of the building units per se as well as thoseof the silo itself are primarily a function of the weight and strengthconsiderations of the materials of which the building units are made,since they are to be handled and assembled using conventional equipment.

Furthermore is should be pointed out that terminology such as separatedone from another by only a single wall refers to the formation ofstorage compartments which consist of only one wall panel betweenadjacent storage compartments. This wall panel may be one side of atubular one-piece box member, or it may be one of the panel units; butin all instances only a single wall separates one storage compartmentfrom another. The thickness of the walls is, of course, dependent uponthe strength requirements which are needed in each building unit inorder to permit assembly thereof into a storage silo of a desired size.

Some features of the invention above described may be modified by use ofalternative equivalents, as will be recognized by those skilled in theart. The foregoing detailed description is therefore not intended to belimiting, but rather is illustrative of a preferred form of the presentinvention. It will accordingly be understood that such modifications arecomprehended within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A prefabricated storage silo having an array of storage compartmentseach being separated one from another by only one wall and being adaptedto enable storing material therein and withdrawal of material therefrom,the array of storage compartments comprising in combination;

a multiplicity of precast panel members each having flange meansprovided along two opposite edges thereof, said flange means beingdisposed to enclose an angle with the plane of the panel member, eachflange means being a mirror image of the other;

a plurality of box members each consisting of a pair of said panelmembers and a couple of connecting walls, said pair of panel membersbeing spaced apart and integrally connected through the flange meansthereon to the connecting Walls for defining a unitary open-ended boxmember of substantially rectangular cross-section;

the flange means on the panel and box members being complementary inform so as to be positionable in a mating relationship for enablingconnecting said members together; and

connecting tie means mounted in orifices in the flange means on each ofsaid panel and box members and being operative for connecting the sametogether as discrete units, such that some of the storage compartmentsare formed by the interconnection together of box members only, Whileothers of the storage compartments are formed by the interconnection ofbox members to panel members.

2. The storage silo of claim 1, wherein sealing means discontinuous withsaid members is provided on the flanges thereof for forming a weatherresistant joint between the box and panel members.

3. The storage silo of claim 1, wherein said connecting tie meansincludes a bearing plate and high tensile bolt means for cooperatingwith said flange means to detachably secure together the panel and boxmembers.

4. The storage silo of claim 1, wherein the edges defining the open endof the box members, and the other two edges of said panel members arepreformed so that such panel and box members are capable of beingstacked one upon another for constructing a storage silo having apredetermined height and storage capacity.

5. A prefabricated storage silo having an array of storage compartmentseach being separated one from another by only one wall, and beingadapted to enabe storing material therein and withdrawal of materialtherefrom, the array of storage compartments comprising in combination;

a multiplicity of precast panel members each having flange meansprovided along two opposite edges thereof, said flange means beingangularly disposed to the panel member to enclose an angle of about 135degrees therewith such that the flange means at one of said oppositeedges forms a mirror image of the flange means along the other edge;

a plurality of box members each consisting of a pair of said panelmembers and a couple of connecting walls, said pair of panel membersbeing spaced apart and integrally connected through the flange meansthereon to the connecting walls for defining a unitary openended boxmember of substantially rectangular crosssection, the plurality of boxmembers being arranged in said array in two outside rows and anintermediate row with spaces being provided between each box member inany one of said rows, the box members in the intermediate row beingdisposed opposite the spaces in the two outside rows, with the flangemeans on the box members of the intermediate row being disposed inmating relationship with and securable to the flange means on boxmembers in the outside rows;

the flange means on the panel members and box members beingcomplementally disposed to be positionable in a mating relationship forenabling connecting to gether of the same whereby the outermost spacesin the outside rows are closed by said panel members; and

connecting tie means adapted to be mounted in the flange means forinterconnecting some of the box members one to another, and theremaining box members to panel members, such that some of the storagecompartments are formed by the interconnection together of box membersonly, while others of the storage compartments are formed by theinterconnection of box members to panel members.

6. The storage silo of claim 5, wherein sealing means discontinuous withthe panel members and box members is provided for forming a weatherresistant joint when said box and panel members are joined together.

7. The storage silo of claim 5, wherein said connecting tie meansincludes a bearing plate and high tensile bolt means for cooperatingwith the flange means on the panel members and the box members todetachably secure the latter together.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,114 7/1953 Amirikian 52-236X FOREIGN PATENTS 121,508 1946 Australia. 1,389,813 1965 France.1,441,807 1966 France.

563,144 1944 Great Britain JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl.X.R.

